What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Marblehead
People
Population	63,266Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1944Highest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Marblehead
High school in town	Brookline High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.